The first ray of sun touched his face, giving him a youthful glow, and me a clearer picture of the mark on his neck. While I was far from an expert, I knew a brand when I saw one. Corey’d had one on his shoulder, a letter G.
“Why is that?” I blurted out. “Why does your mother not care for your girlfriend, or should I say, friend with benefits? Marissa said you have an arrangement.” My body was rigid with caution as I spoke and Dominick’s eyes never wavered from mine as he listened. “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to sound judgmental. It’s just, I firmly believe when two people fall into bed, at least one of them comes out with feelings, and it’s clear to me Marissa has some heavy feelings for you.” Maybe it was none of my business, but it was the subject matter I wanted to discuss.
Dominick took in a deep breath. “Marissa has feelings for my money and what I can give her. I’d wager she has no clue what being in a relationship even means. For her, being with me equals shopping, jewelry, and having the label of being my proper–” He faltered as he realized what he was saying. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean—”
Stopping him again, I placed my hand on his shoulder. “It’s okay. Marissa used the same word. If the two of you are fine with it, then it doesn’t matter what I think.”
“What about you? Any broken hearts left in your wake?” His question seemed to hold a hint of humor.
“Me? No. No broken hearts or friends with benefits. I’m just not made that way.” The snapping of a lock across the street called my attention. “Don’t get me wrong, it’s fine for some people, just not something I ever wanted.”
We walked for two blocks in silence, Dominick sipping his coffee while I took in the blue water from the ocean at the end of the block. I hadn’t noticed the inlet the first day I traveled down this street, too occupied with finding the street number of the apartment I’d nearly rented. Passing the building on the left, the smell of fire still lingered in the damp air. Bulldozers had come a few days after the fire, to remove the singed brick and ash from the now vacant lot.
“When I was a little boy, my mom would bring me and my sister to work with her. There was this little candy shop run by this Russian couple.” He pointed his cup in the direction of the store at the end of the row. It was now a newsstand; the owner was still setting up today’s papers. “She would give me money and I would run there as fast as I could to get these caramel candies that were made right before your eyes. I would spend every penny to have that amazing flavor. When the shop closed, I thought my life was over. I begged my father to make them come back. He didn’t tell me at the time, but the couple who ran it had been receiving threats. People wanted them to leave because they were Russian and believed they were a part of something sinister. This was during the Cold War, when Americans hated the Russians, although no one knew why. My father helped them set up a new store in a different part of New York. He even brought me this huge box of the caramel candy and told me it had to last. They ended up moving back to Russia due to an illness. To this day, I can still smell that sugar cooking and almost taste the sweet caramel.”
Dominick shared story after story of growing up here. About the first time he met the Papas and how his uncle ate lunch there every day. People found out and they started coming in to eat as well. We continued to walk and I listened to all of his stories. He was so descriptive, I could almost see him as a little boy riding his bike down the sidewalk, chasing cats with lit firecrackers and eating candy, the remnants smeared on his olive colored skin.
We had started back toward the shop when Mrs. Smith, a lady who ran a specialty shop, was trying to carry some heavy boxes into her store. Dominick shouted for her to leave them in her car as he hurried down the street in her direction. He retrieved the boxes from her car and carried them inside for her. She placed her hand on his face, and then kissed each of his cheeks in thanks. This was a side to Dominick I found myself liking.
Entering the flower shop, I noticed Sophia was already elbow deep in several arrangements. I walked around the counter and tugged on my apron, joining her without wasting time tying the thing.
“Ari, thank you for the wonderful conversation. I thoroughly enjoyed it.” His eyes sparkled and his cheeks were pink from the chill of the air. Rounding the corner he reached out and captured the ties at my side, securing them in a comfortable bow as he turned his attention to Sophia. “Mom, I will call you later. I have a meeting with Dad in a few minutes.” He kissed her goodbye and left the store while Sophia continued to place flower after flower into the vases before her.
I watched Dominick slide into his sleek black car and it hit me—he never asked if he could see me again.
READING PEOPLE CAME NATURALLY TO me. My Uncle Carmine told me it was a gift from the angels and that I should trust it always. This time, I didn’t want to. I wanted to believe everything was as it seemed, when it came to Ari. I wanted to believe she was the sweet, beautiful woman she appeared to be.
I sat on my couch listening to the rain as it hit the windows in my roof. The skylights were the reason I’d sunk so much money into the place. I loved the light they allowed during the day, and the solace and lullaby the sound gave me when it rained. Tonight, the sweet sound gave me no rest, no peace or calm, though.
My meeting with Demetri left me with more questions than answers. Watching and listening to the conversation held behind closed doors, I became more drawn to her. When Ari turned from the door, I thought she would have something derogatory to say to Marissa, but it was the complete opposite.
“Marissa, I can’t help but wonder why you aren’t wearing a thousand dollar dress and standing next to Dominick.”
Marissa, in her usual fashion, acted like a twelve-year-old girl, and huffed. “Because, I was told I wasn’t invited. When the guys approached me about doing this surprise for Dominick, I couldn’t wait to help. When they told me how much they were willing to pay me, it sealed the deal. I don’t try to be something I’m not. I’ll never be a lady and walk in the same circles as Sophia. Some days that bothers me, some days not.”
Ari listened to her and gave her all the time she needed to answer the question. Then she knocked me on my ass when she responded: “You’re wrong, you know? I mean about the lady part. You can be anything you want to be. Even if it’s a girl who pops out of birthday cake naked or the Secretary of State. It’s all in your drive and ambition. Marissa, don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t change your destiny.”
Ari Taylor was a special brand of lady, one any man would be proud to have. She was able to take care of herself and make her own money. She made it clear she didn’t want what other people wanted from me, money and or power. Hell, she’d made it clear that she wanted very little from me. She had the ability to change the people around her, not only with her talent of creating beautiful flowers, but also with her genuine words of wisdom, her honesty, and selflessness.
Demetri had given me a copy of the conversation after he’d handed me the information, which rested, in the manila envelope I’d tossed on my bar. I couldn’t look at it anymore. The words staining the paper in that envelope would seal my fate with Ari. She would hate me, and that was something I just couldn’t face.
I tossed back the rest of my drink and threw the empty glass against the wall. Just like my father, I’d fallen in love with a woman who didn’t want me. Also like my father, I didn’t care. I wanted her, guilt be damned.
The rain stopped some time before five, giving me an idea. I showered and made a call to my mom. She told me to meet her at the shop, that she would stay while I spoke with Ari. I needed to make Ari see I was a decent kind of guy beneath the dirt and grime my position painted on me. As I left the shop with Ari, I leaned over and asked my mom to say a special prayer to the saint of lost causes. She brushed my cheek like she had when I was little and murmured, “Let the heart lead your decisions.”
Mom had suggested I share a side of me no one else knew. It was nice to relive those childhood memories when I’d had
no cares or worries. As we grew closer to the store, I knew my time with her had come to an end. I had to meet with my dad, needed his advice, and to confide this secret which would destroy the most precious woman, who I had decided to make mine. I took one last look around the street and climbed into my car. How could just one question, one inquiry, change your whole world?
My father had insisted Demetri be involved in this meeting. He’d sent Anthony to do some clean up down in Louisiana; from his sources down there, the situation had resolved itself. Anthony had been elusive as to his whereabouts. He’d even missed the party last night, which was not like him at all. My dad had grown leery of Anthony in the last few months, telling me he was keeping both eyes out for him. So far he had been clean, and I was beginning to think my dad was wrong about him.
“So, tell me what we have, Demetri.” My father, ever in control, no doubt already knew every word Demetri was about to say.
“I’ve been monitoring street cams. Found the wannabe gang targeting Mrs. Santos’s street. I don’t have a positive ID on them yet, but I did find them over on Grayson Ave. It seems they have a new member with them, a girl known on the streets as Kitty. I have footage of the three of them going into a building and escorting her to a black truck last night.”
The flickering image showed the quick movements of the four as they walked down the street. Kitty was dressed in hooker heels and a full-length fur coat. I wouldn’t have questioned it, except for the record high temperatures for New York of late. While it was still chilly, it wasn’t cold enough for a fur coat.
“As you can see, the tag is blocked from the camera view. It’s that way each time I get a look at it, almost like they know where the cameras are.” I shifted in my chair and noticed my father do the same.
“Anthony hasn’t been to his house in a few weeks, and none of his girls have seen him, although he sends each of them flowers weekly. Gabby told me he has a standing order.” Demetri and my father turned to look at me. He must’ve told my father what he’d shared with me last night. The look of pity was obvious on both of their faces.
Demetri’s phone started ringing and he looked to my father for permission to answer. “It’s Karla.” Magic words it seemed, as my father waved him off. When Demetri left the room, I took the opportunity to address the current dilemma keeping me awake last night. I tossed the envelope on his desk, my eyes never leaving his. I wanted to see his reaction.
“Something tells me you did a little investigation.” My father’s voice was condescending. He knew what was in the folder.
“You knew?” My tone was disbelieving now.
He eased back into his chair; resting his left arm on the side of the leather seat he loved so much. “Of course, I knew. Do you think for one second I would allow this family to be unprotected, to let our enemy take us like thieves in the night?”
How stupid could I be? I had allowed my desire to cloud my judgment.
“Dominick, when will you get it through your head I know most everything that goes on in this town? With one exception.” He pointed his finger in my direction before finishing his sentence. “What you plan to do about it.” It was a very good question, one that I didn’t have an answer for.
“Dad…” I’d always known what I was doing, where I was going, but right now I felt like I was standing at a crossroads. If I chose to be honest, it would destroy any chance I had to be with Ari. However, if I chose to lie to her, I faced the possibility that when she learned the truth, she would hate me even more.
“Son, I can’t tell you what to do. I will say maybe you should hold off, at least until you have all the facts. After all, you don’t know all of the details of their relationship.”
I cut him off; something I was taught was rude when dealing with the head of the Family. “What? I’m supposed to sit back and do nothing? Show a weakness for someone who has crossed me?” My head fell into my hands, the heaviness in the room crashing down on my shoulders.
“Dominick, you did what you had to do for this family. Just like I do with every decision I make. There’s more to this story than what’s in this envelope. My advice is to see if you can smoke out the truth.” I snapped my head up, my curiosity definitely piqued now. Giving him a puzzled look, I asked, “How?”
He opened his desk drawer, where he removed a large folder, which he slid across the desk to me. I pulled out photocopies of birth certificates, a marriage license, and several bank account statements. One particular piece of paper caught my attention. “Why would a person do this? When everything here points to a normal life.” I tapped my finger on the ink on the paper.
My father’s smug voice and Cheshire grin returned. “Not according to Sophia. She just shared some amazing news with me.” Dad sucked in a breath, intending to tell me the news Mom had, when Demetri burst through the door.
“Hey! Karla just told me someone tried to break into her shop. I think it’s the guys you’re looking for.”
“ARI, HONEY, I NEED TO talk with you about something.”
I had finished helping Mr. Miller load the flowers for his daughter’s wedding into his car. A beautiful arrangement I designed myself with the bride and groom’s initials. When the bride saw it two days ago, she wrapped her arms around me, ecstatic with how the letters “popped.” An almost issue arose when her mother snidely said they wouldn’t be paying extra for glitz and glam when they hadn’t asked for it. Sophia assured her the gesture was a gift from the shop, when in reality they’d been in a box we found while cleaning out the storeroom after a bottle of cleaner busted. The box was on the bottom and obviously ruined, so we’d stuck them in three of the four wedding flowers we had going out today. Mr. Miller was a sweet, older gentleman who married a much younger woman, who looked after every penny he had. She was the one who insisted he take them and not let our delivery people handle it. I had told her over and over we didn’t charge for setup and delivery, but she was convinced she was saving money.
“Sure, Sophia, something wrong?” I knew I wasn’t in trouble; I had done every task she had asked of me, so I wasn’t worried. Sophia walked over to the door, locking it and turning the sign to CLOSED. Saturdays were our half days, and after this crazy week, I was glad.
“Come join me in my office.”
I followed after her, taking a seat in the same chair Dominick had sat in hours before. I loved her office, with its rich beige colors, lush furnishings, and the massive television hanging on the far wall. I never understood why she had it here, unless to entertain visiting members of the family. Although she always seemed to have it on, it was muted today. Sophia stood next to a large bureau pouring hot water into a teapot. She almost always had a cup of tea in her hand when she was in her office. I loved the smell, which came from her tea making; calming and sweet.
“Hey!” Gabby’s rushed voice sounded in the back room.
Both Sophia and I looked to the door as a makeup free, hair pulled atop her head, sweats pants and Marine t-shirt wearing Gabby came into the office.
“Oh… didn’t expect to see you, but do you have a second?” Sophia seemed to already know the answer while she pulled another cup from the shelf and started pouring.
Gabby plopped down into the chair with exasperation and fatigue written all over her. “I forgot my bag here last night, it has my birth control in it and I don’t want to miss a dose. Especially now.”
We all giggled at her comment. It was clear she had spent the last several hours in pure bliss. Fighting the evil green monster living inside of me, I longed to have that kind of passion in my life.
“Well, I won’t keep you long then. I just have some news the both of you need to hear.” Sophia handed us each a cup and took a seat on the opposite couch. “Antonio and I have been planning for several years for the day we both get to retire. He has been training Dominick to take over the family business and recent events have shown Antonio and me the time is getting close.”
Gabby looked at me; worry replacing th
e bliss she’d had when she first entered.
“Now, I know what you’re thinking, Gabby, and I want you to put the thought out of your pretty head.” I wasn’t following where this conversation was headed.
“I’m putting the shop up for sale.”
My stomach was instantly in my throat. I would have to find another job and a new place to stay. I didn’t like that thought. I enjoyed working here and loved my little corner of the world upstairs. Deciding to leave on my own terms was one thing, but being forced to move on wasn’t something I wanted.
“Now, any prospective buyers will have to agree to keep the both of you on. That’s a nonnegotiable clause my attorney is including in the contract.” She pointed her index finger back and forth between us.
Gabby began to talk about missing her and the way things were ran. My thoughts drifted to other things. Things that, at one point, had seemed like an impossible dream. Now, I could almost feel the clouds of that dream.
“Sophia, mind if I inquire what you are listing the business for?” The words had left my mouth before my brain could comprehend them. All that money sitting across town was intended for this, owning my own shop.
“Well, it’s an established shop, with an excellent reputation, not to mention the impeccable staff.” I wanted to roll my eyes at her; she didn’t need to sell me to myself.
“Do you have a buyer in mind?” she questioned, still keeping the price a secret. Keeping direct eye contact with her, I spoke with confidence, “Yes, yes I do.”
She smiled. “One-hundred fifty-thousand dollars.” I knew that wasn’t the final price tag. Buying a business required lawyers and permits, too. Everything came with hidden costs. Still, if I could get a loan, I knew I could make this thing work. I had a rough idea at the kind of profit she had coming in. I could make it fine for a few months with the cash stashed in my closet.
Stolen Secrets Page 12